YearToAvoid

2020 Buick Encore Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

22/100

#8 most-complained of 10 Encore years

The 2020 Buick Encore ranks 8th of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 22 and a Best verdict among Encore years. It logged 19 complaints, 2 recalls, and 1 crash, with the Engine as the top problem area at 47% of complaints.

Complaints
19
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26.5
24.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2020 Buick Encore problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine9 (47%)
  2. Electrical System4 (21%)
  3. Fuel System4 (21%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain4 (21%)
  5. Brakes3 (16%)
  6. Other3 (16%)
  7. Airbags1 (5%)
  8. Steering1 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report sudden loss of power steering during a turn, in one case ending in a crash with airbag deployment.
  • Drivers describe the cruise control disengaging on its own on the highway, followed by unexpected acceleration or throttle surges.
  • Owners report the engine losing power or hesitating to accelerate, with one case at 5,240 miles almost causing a collision.
  • Some describe the horn sounding on its own at startup, requiring the fuse to be pulled, along with dash radio, phone, and cruise control malfunctions.
  • Owners report transmission jerking or gear-change sensations paired with a check engine light and reduced top speed.
  • One owner reported a turbo failure with error code P0299 and sluggish performance on hills at 112,000 miles.
2020 Buick Encore complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2020Mar 2022Sep 2023Apr 2024Apr 2025Feb 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Jun 2026; peak Oct 2020 (3).

2020 Buick Encore recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  2. NHTSA 20V537000Sep 3, 2020Structure & Body105 vehicles

    Seats:critical fasteners

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

    Risk: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.

2020 Buick Encore fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
26.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,450
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Encore years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution5674028
2019Avoid8986227
2020Best2219226.5
2021Best09026.5
2022Best118026.5

All Buick Encore years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Buick Encore reliable?
Among Encore model years, 2020 ranks 8th worst out of 10 with a complaint index of 22, earning a Best verdict compared to other years. It has 19 complaints and 2 recalls on file with NHTSA.
What problems does the 2020 Buick Encore have?
The top problem area is the Engine, making up 47% of complaints, followed by Electrical System and Fuel System, each at 21%. NHTSA also lists Transmission & Powertrain issues at 21% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 5,240 miles.
Does the 2020 Buick Encore have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2020 Buick Encore: one for the start-stop transmission accumulator (campaign 20V668000) and one for front seat attachment bolts on the Encore GX (campaign 20V537000). Neither is marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2020 Buick Encore compare to other years?
The 2020 Encore has a complaint index of 22, far lower than the 2017 Encore's index of 100 or the 2015 Encore's index of 78, both marked Avoid. Only the 2021 and 2022 Encores rank better, with indexes of 0 and 11.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Buick Encore?
The 2020 Buick Encore gets an EPA-rated 26.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,450.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.